Mikiah Kreps vs Mayerlin Rivas Predictions: Prospect can ruin Rivas return

8-0 prospect Mikiah Kreps gets a huge test on Friday, October 4, when she faces Mayerlin Rivas. The bout takes place at Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel in Niagara Falls. ESPN will screen the bout live.

Here are my Kreps vs Rivas predictions ahead of this super bantamweight 10-rounder.

Kreps is making a huge step-up in this fight. The undefeated star was a major standout at amateur level, culminating in winning the 2019 AIBA World Championships. So far Kreps’ pro career has seen her work her way through a mix of fellow prospects and journeywomen. The only name that grabs the attention on her resume is Melissa Odessa Parker, the former IBO champion who has lost three on the bounce.

Rivas is a whole different athlete. The Venezuelan is a two-weight world champion, having held the WBA title at bantamweight and super bantamweight. Rivas held the latter as recently as November 2023, when she lost it via a tight split decision to Erika Cruz Hernandez. 

The 36-year-old has not fought since. Inactivity in your autumn years as a fighter can be a problem. Starting back up in camp can be a slower process. The body doesn’t respond like it did. But fighters age at different rates. The fact remains, Rivas was very recently the champion of the world.

Rivas is without a win in a couple of years now, though. Before losing to Cruz, her last defence had ended in a technical draw with Nazarena Romero. You have to go back to June 2022 and Rivas’ third-round stoppage of Karina Fernandez to find her last victory. Two years is an age in boxing terms. Can Rivas get back into the winning habit?

She’ll have a job on her hands. Kreps has looked mightily impressive, albeit against opposition she was expected to beat. Three knockouts show a power that is often uncommon in the women’s game, with shorter rounds and shorter fights often negating the more powerful boxers. 

But in Rivas she meets a fellow banger. The former world champion has knocked out 11 of her 17 victims. Are we in for a firefight when these two women meet?

It seems likely. Kreps likes to cut the ring off and consume her opponents with pressure. Her footwork is adept, schooled in her elite amateur days. Kreps is resilient too. Kara Bradley had her badly cut but Kreps still walked her down and stopped her in the fourth. This is a fighter who just keeps on coming.

Rivas is more of a boxer-puncher. The Venezuelan likes to have a look and judge timing and range from behind a potent jab. I expect the rhythm of his fight to be Kreps trying to lead the dance while Rivas concerns herself with choosing the steps. Kreps will have to contend with that Rivas jab. Rivas will have to find a way to stop the pressure.

Mikiah Kreps vs Mayerlin Rivas Fight Odds

Kreps is 8/13 to win this one while Rivas is the 27/20 underdog. A draw between these fighters is priced at 12/1.

Mikiah Kreps vs Mayerlin Rivas Full Card

Mikiah Kreps vs. Mayerlin Rivas 

Gerrfred Ngayot vs. Wilfredo Flores 

Alexander Castellano vs. Dominique Griffin 

Spencer Wilcox vs. Dashaun Johns 

Mike Vega vs. Chris J. Ortiz 

Joseph Mesi vs. Michael Shaw

Mikiah Kreps vs Mayerlin Rivas Prediction

I think this one could be something special. Sometimes a fight is presented where the respective skillsets match up perfectly. I think this is it.

I can see Kreps having to eat more punches than she ever has in trying to back up Rivas. But if she can get inside that jab, I think the unbeaten star will make hay.

The Romero fight showed that Rivas can succumb to pressure and it would have been fascinating to see what had happened had the cut not led to a technical draw.

I think Kreps will stamp her authority on this one from about halfway, doing enough to pound out a decision win. You can back my tip at 1/1.

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